The Monday Playlist: Adele, Kelly Clarkson, FOURS and more...
The best new songs from last week here in your inbox (there really was more than that new Adele song)
No pop culture moment has filled me with pure joy in recent weeks more than Adele being interviewed by a radio station about her new album and asking if she was panicking about Ed Sheeran releasing an album around the same time as her to which she cackled and said ‘i ain’t panicking - he should panic!’
Anyway, its not just Adele out with a new song this week, I’ve got 13 others from excellent artists that I reckon are worth a listen - sorry I’m a little late this week, just been living this crazy little thing called life for once.
Here’s the Spotify playlist - hope you find something you like, and thanks for subscribing!
Easy On Me by Adele - she’s done it again, hasn’t she? The clarity and tone Adele’s voice here is stunning, using vocal runs sparingly and to great effect; the melodic progression is excellent and it feels like a gift to just be able to sit and listen to Adele singing with nothing but a piano to back her. This has been with me since the moment I heard it, I wake up with it, go to sleep with it, sing it constantly - a masterpiece
Keep Your Head Up Princess by Anson Seabra - it would feel entirely wrong to segue from a big Adele ballad into a pop banger or something, so here’s a gentle little thing from sad piano boy Anson Seabra who has this week served up a new EP featuring this sad little piano ballad telling a sweet but sad story about just hanging in there
Giving In To The Love by AURORA - a rousing pop song, that really thumps away at you, can imagine this one being a huge moment at an AURORA concert
Children by Billy Porter - Billy Porter is a bit like Jessie J - undeniably talented, hits you over the head with it a bit, delivers a huge banger every once in a while. The key changes and the sheer pace of this one is huge - a high octane dance-pop anthem for the ages
Let Somebody God by Coldplay + Selena Gomez - can’t believe I’m shouting out another Coldplay song in less than a month, but this duet is so gentle and lovely, like a big warm blanket on a cold winter’s eve
Love is Pain by FINNEAS - Sorry for all the dreary ballads this week, but this new one from Billie Eilish’s brother’s debut album is too gorgeous to ignore
Feel Better by FOURS - this one is a big angsty pop-rock tune, it’s all about that feeling of heartbreak and being ignored, there’s a really good bit about two thirds in when she sings ‘Can you stop looking at your phone for five fucking minutes’ that has so much gritty passion in it
Sad Song by GRACEY - a brilliant pop song, the way the verses build is exquisite, one of pop’s most exciting up-and-comers
Santa, Can’t You Hear Me by Kelly Clarkson + Ariana Grande - it may be too early for Christmas music, but there’s never a bad time to listen to a euphoric duet from two powerhouses, even if this one is full of sleigh bells and mentally transports you to Christmas morning. Sonically sits right beside Santa Tell Me and Underneath the Tree and reminds you what Christmas is all about: enormous pop songs by incredible pop vocalists
Who’s Gonna Love Me Now? by James Morrison - the way this kicks in with the massive brass section it took me a minute to accept this was a new James Morrison song and not James Newman’s Love Me Again - take that as you will
Just One Look by Julia Michaels - Ms Michaels has given enough to the musical landscape that anything new she does requires a look in - this one’s a cover of a Doris Troy for some bizzaro ‘songs you can cook Chicken Noodle Soup to’ campaign, which on its own would be enough to give it a spin, don’t you think?
Money Money by Purple Disco Machine + Pink Flamingo Rhythm Revue - huge disco pop tune incoming ⚠️⚠️⚠️ the vocals on this one are a little slice of heaven
Seven Days by THRDL!FE + Conor Maynard - not a day goes by that I’m not surprised by how good the dude who was once the poor man’s Justin Bieber (Conor Maynard) actually is as a performer - another great feature spot for him on this bassy EDM tune
Starlight by Westlife - this one’s a little bit naff really, but Westlife still have that charm, don’t they? One of those big nonsense euphoric-sounding anthems, more than a bit X-Factor winner’s single